Mitchell parents, athletes have fun with college signings
Katelen Dixon picks Tampa; Josh Le'Roy signs with USF.
By JAMAL THALJI
Published November 16, 2003
TRINITY - A 4-year old school needs all the tradition it can get.
That's why signing day is shaping up into a fine tradition at Mitchell.
The school held its second annual signing day Thursday, as volleyball star Katelen Dixon signed a full scholarship with the University of Tampa and baseball standout Josh Le'Roy put his name on a partial scholarship with the University of South Florida.
The two made it official during the early signing period at the school's media center, with their parents, coaches, teammates and friends looking on. Afterward congratulations were given, photos taken and everyone ate cake color-matched to the schools. The Dixons had fun with it.
"No, not there," coach and father Joe Dixon shouted to his daughter as her pen touched the paper. Her eyes grew wide. "I knew I would do that," she said. "That was my nightmare."
It was the kind of gathering baseball coach Phil Bell had in mind when he pitched it to athletic director Ian Mooney.
Schools all over have signing days for student-athletes and their parents. But Bell wanted to take it a step further. He did not want to just honor the athletes, but to show their peers the result of their work.
"Other students can see what they've accomplished," Bell said. "They can see that student-athletes need to have good grades."
UT is a Division II national power that was as enamored of Dixon as she was of it. Last year during a Tampa Bay Juniors club practice, UT coach Chris Catanach had to fill in. He had seen Dixon before, but after that practice, the recruiting soon started.
"They have a great team and great coaching," said Dixon, an outside hitter, "and they can beat a Division I team, so it wasn't a big issue for me to go Division I or II.
"I love the people and I love the school."
Dixon said she also likes the school's education curriculum (she wants to be a teacher) and performing arts program (she likes to be on stage, too.) Her father, there with wife Melody, said his daughter can fill an important need for the Spartans.
"They want her to aspire to take over the left side (of the net)," Joe Dixon said. "They're getting a skilled athlete, somebody who can have an impact immediately."
Katelen Dixon already has plans for her first year.
"Hopefully as a freshman I can be some of type of leader," she said. "I want to play."
Ray and Cindy Le'Roy were in tears as their son Josh signed. When their son was 11, his father was diagnosed with a herniated disc in his neck, which caused compression of the spinal cord and partial paralysis on his right side.
Unable to help his son hone his baseball skills, he turned to former USF player Jim Felce, who tutors young ballplayers. Felce said Bulls baseball coach Eddie Cardieri and his staff will help Mitchell's senior catcher realize his college, and pro, potential.
"USF is going to harness his ability," Felce said, "and take it to the next level. You're just going to see a kid at USF just grow over the years, and he's going to be a high draft pick. I've been telling his dad that for years. He has the ability."
Bell said the Bulls are getting the ideal player.
"They're getting the type of kid they like, which is coachable," the coach said. "They're going to get a kid who would run through a wall for them, and any coach would like that."
The Le'Roys drove cross-country, from Florida State to Wake Forest, weighing programs and offers. But the family atmosphere at USF was hard to beat.
"It's the atmosphere, the team, and the coaches are awesome," said Josh Le'Roy. "It's the kind of program I want to go into."
It was the kind of day, Ray Le'Roy said, that a father can take pride in.
"I'm elated to see Josh sign," he said. "I'm so proud of everything he's accomplished in high school."
